Italy v Ireland

[Feicarsinn]

I've no problems with Cullen but he isn't experienced in international stage like Paulie is and not as vocal around because he simply hasn't been in enough. That's why we need Paulie in there for that job and Paul O'Connell will have 3 games with Munster before then as well as 5/6 training games and plenty of training so I don't think it a question IF he is fit because he will be well up to speed

Aside from Ferris, Cronin and DOC the rest of the pack will be Leinstermen. Too right he'll be able to be vocal to them. Leo does have nineteen caps and has been around the team for the past two seasons. It would be illogical to favour a player who has played about and hour of rugby since march over Cullen.


EDIT: Before I forget, the talk of Fitzgerald at FB is interesting. He seems fairly convinced that this is his best position, but I wouldn't be so sure. He was pretty poor there against the Ospreys on the weekend and hasn't looked great whenever he's played there this season.

Personally I think people have been harsh on Rob Kearney this year. He hasn't reached the heights that he did in the year of the Slam but he's still out best bet at the back for the foreseeable future.

 

[Sam Owen]

Ireland.

 

[munstermuffin]

Feic - you are predicting Ross and Sean O'Brien are guaranteed a spot which I've no arguments but in reality it's uncertain. Cullen is a good leader but I think Paul O'Connell is a different step up and has been a leader of this group almost like a joint captain with BOD for years and has that respect. He even had to act as a speaker in dressing room at AI's despite been injured. Also Paul O'Connell will have alot of gametime in him come Italian game so he won't be rusty and I think Kidney has made it clear as has nearly every player from all provinces that he will be a massive asset to have back as he puts a spark in our defense.
And I not saying Cullen a bad player or leader just he isn't seen in the same regard as Paulie within the set up. Simply because he hasn't been around as much and you say he has been around for last 2 years but he's missed best part of the year in camps too with shoulder injury.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Feic - you are predicting Ross and Sean O'Brien are guaranteed a spot which I've no arguments but in reality it's uncertain. Cullen is a good leader but I think Paul O'Connell is a different step up and has been a leader of this group almost like a joint captain with BOD for years and has that respect. He even had to act as a speaker in dressing room at AI's despite been injured. Also Paul O'Connell will have alot of gametime in him come Italian game so he won't be rusty and I think Kidney has made it clear as has nearly every player from all provinces that he will be a massive asset to have back as he puts a spark in our defense.
And I not saying Cullen a bad player or leader just he isn't seen in the same regard as Paulie within the set up. Simply because he hasn't been around as much and you say he has been around for last 2 years but he's missed best part of the year in camps too with shoulder injury.

Whereas Cullen has been O'Driscoll's captain for the past two years. O'Connell's leadership skills are overhyped imo. While he's a good man to have around the team no doubt, he's no Martin Johnson. I think the Lions tour proved that if nothing else.


Anyway, I think you're missing the point. O'Connell hasn't played enough to merit selection. By the time the Italian game swings around he'll have played roughly the same amount of rugby that Cullen had when the AI's began and will have been out for far, far longer. If Cullen wasn't considered fit enough I can't see how O'Connell should be.

Let's compare how any games they've played over the last 3 months or so:

Cullen:
Saracens
Connacht
Edinburgh
Dragons
Ospreys
Scarlets
Clermont
Clermont
Ulster
Ospreys
Total: Ten games, 631 minutes of rugby

O'Connell:
Cardiff
Ospreys
Total: Two games, 34 minutes of rugby

Not enough gametime to be considered. Cullen is a proven international standard lock. So why gamble when we don't have to?

 

[Curls]

Cullen is a proven international standard lock. So why gamble when we don't have to?

Well if right was right Cullen would play 4 and POC 5. But it seems that POC wants DOC with him at 4 aND Kidney seems set nomatter what to play DOC at any available chance . Cullen commands the line-out and that showed when he played last year! I dont see why Cullen and POC cant play together at 4 and 5?

 

[munstermuffin]

Cullen is captain at Leinster. He is well respected and admired in that group of 1 province.
Paul O'Connell is well respected and has been the leader of a group combined of the 4 provinces I think this is an easy situation to see even for the 1-eyed supporters.
Cullen is a super player but hasn't built a rep with these players and for 1 reason or another never nailed his spot down on team. (That is a separate argument I'm not having)
Also Feic Paulie will play in Munsters next 3 games too and has played in games behind closed doors so he will be up to speed. Let's remember he is back from injury in full training 9 weeks now.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Cullen is captain at Leinster. He is well respected and admired in that group of 1 province.
Paul O'Connell is well respected and has been the leader of a group combined of the 4 provinces I think this is an easy situation to see even for the 1-eyed supporters.
Cullen is a super player but hasn't built a rep with these players and for 1 reason or another never nailed his spot down on team. (That is a separate argument I'm not having)
Also Feic Paulie will play in Munsters next 3 games too and has played in games behind closed doors so he will be up to speed. Let's remember he is back from injury in full training 9 weeks now.

3 games ain't enough for me when we have a perfectly capable player in Cullen. Also, I refuse to believe that no one outside of Leinster respects Leo.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree it isnt ideal but that is the way it is.
Also I'm not saying Leo isn't respected as a player but in terms of he hasn't started much and he's not going to just come in and act like a leader - no player would. Leo's goal is to try nail down a spot

 

[Peat]

Personally I think its a massive shame Felix Jones keeps getting injured as I think he could be a very good full-back and would have been the ideal cover for this moment - if he wasn't so unlucky.

I reckon its karma's punishment for trying to play for a country that isn't Wales when your name is Jones.

 

[lucky number 7]

I am not sure where I stand entirely on the Leo Cullen and Paulie situation...if as munstermuffin says he will be fit and have 3 games under his belt and impresses in those games I think he may be the man for it ..although if he is not hitting great form at that stage yet I would give it another game or 2 before he does start :/

 

[lucky number 7]

What more do I want? Well just more basically. Yes Stringer's good points are his experience, quick delivery and a decent defensive game which isn't really an advantage rather more of a basic requirement of a rugby player. Thats all well and good but these days a scrumhalf tends to have a bit more to his game aswell as a good delivery such as being good at making breaks like Dwayne Peel and Danny Care or being more physical like Mike Phillips for example.
My point is theres nothing wrong with Stringer but theres player who can give a team what Stringer can plus a bit more.

Stringer is like a Wild West gunslinger...........BAM ball is at first receiver.....Nobody faster at hitting his man...and he does make the odd break but he does so when needed ..ala Heineken cup final where he smoked Betsen and 09 off back of line out to set up heaslips try ...probably the defining moment of that 6nations campaign in my eyes

 

[grego15]

i hope ireland get defeated really badly

 

[grego15]

i hope ireland get defeated really badly dont like ireland nop nop nop hate them

 

[King_D'Arcy]

i hope ireland get defeated really badly dont like ireland nop nop nop hate them

Aww that's nice!

 

[lucky number 7]

What on gods earth are you saying?

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads on Paul O'Connell situation - This isn't an opinion it is fact if he is fit he will start surely we all know this.
Peat I agree as Felix in my opinion had he stayed fit wouldve got Heineken Cup time had he been fit and well wouldve been ahead of Johne Murphy for 15 jersey but he just seems to be injury prone. Although with the exception of Paul W. The munster 15 jersey seems to be a curse at times

 

[lucky number 7]

I dont doubt his fitness but do you think he will hit International form that quickly..I dont doubt his class or ability but it just seems it would be an incredible feat for him to hit form so quickly :/

 

[munstermuffin]

Paul O'Connell will be fine and will hold his own lads. He knows he has alot of rugby lost to make up and he is eager for first time in long time

 

[durbutter]

It will be an awful match. We'll get beaten up in the pack, killed in the scrum and get parity in the lineout. A scrappy win coming of mistakes by Italian backs. tbh somthing like that could be the kick up the hole the lads need. And it'll keep the hype machine in check.

 

[Amobokoboko]

This one is an eye catcher, really looking forward to see how Italy will manage